Improvement in motor-springs



UNITED'STATES PATENT-- .i ;To all 'whmn it may conccrn:

used, are well known to be very defective-and I .gueutly the first to ieloseor wind down, closingldown uponthe-smaller coilsibefore =the"lat-` ler igivenoff-by the voluteimotor-now=inzusezis;

CHARLES H. SLIUER, OF ;BALTIMOR MARYLN'D.

iMPRovl-:MENTIN Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 187,424, dated February 13, 1877; application filed January 17, 1877.

*Be it. known that I, CHARLES H. Smcnmiof Baltimore city,.in the `Stateof Maryland, have t invented certain new `and `useful improvements in Motor-Springs; and 1 do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which =will renable .others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use thesame, reference being had to the accompanying drawi'ngs, and to? the letters of reference marked thereon,=which form a part of this specification.

The volute spring adapted for a motor is 'what I have improved. i

This class `of motors, although extensivelfy unsatisfactory in lthe manner `lof storing np and'givingofi their power, while theamount of power they produce is 'comparatively small i 'in proportion to `:their weightof metal. 'It is also a ffact `'chat the inner or smaller coils, or :those `nearest the `zvvinding-shaft, and lnecessamily containing the least amount of 'met-al, vare 'the hardest to close -iwhen :the springzis .being wound,iand consequently exent the greatestfi portion of 'the powergiven off iby .the spring, while 'the largestior outer coils,contai-ni=ngthe 1 greatest amount of metal,zexertcomparatively i; "feeble iresistance =to winding, 'and vare conseter close. Theresult isthat mostzofi'thezpowidue to the `:two,=three, or :more Asmaller coi=ls" ilapping near the =winding.-shaft.

My invention is designed to accomplish. ;among other (things, lthemore equable .distribution of :the power of `the volute spring ith'roughoutiits coirls than'has .heretoforel been `obtained.v `In .fact,.I1ai1n to-equalizethe pow-i `er .of the volute spring from its `.inner smaller; `to its outer `larger coils, zwhich, so far fas I `iklnow, has1not1hitherto been accomplished.

iForiwatches, clocks, sewing-machines, typewriters, and` other imechanisms, this class of springs is used, andiin every application thedefects mentioned exist to Aa greater or ,less degree, according to :their length.

=By my invention `I'equalize .the power Aof Mthe spring ;by equalizing lthe .'.poweriof =its coils-that is to say, rendering the power pf the outer larger vcoilsequal to that of the ;illiner smalier eoils by a proper distribution of the Weightof ;the ;metal zthroughout thezllifilg, by tapering vthe blade .on one or both zsides, and on one or both edges, the degree Lof ;tapet being such `asivvill reduce theinner or :Wind- -ingend of the blade lsufficientto `equalize igt with the outer end, or, indeed,1inal;eithe latter 'the stron'gest, if it `'should `be deemed .best

for any special purpose.

The reduction in .the width and thickness of thefiblade must be propontionedtto its length and thickness and of `the whole zweightofthe spring. The reducing-tapers can `be 4made.in various v.ways to :accomplsh the same result, so =rlong as the proper reduction `of `.inetalii's made.

`The :same principle ``of -distrib.ution .and

-equalization 4of :power may ;be produeed by `splittin-g an ordinary spring bladeor ribbqn of equal thickness and 'width `to-i,'o.rn:i nitapering blades of degreeof strength |accondinig to 'the taper, andizto `give the narrOWestendMhen being UWound .an .equal `power to ;the .widesjzt end.

The .degree of ;taper ,of .thisfsplitzfspring "will depend :upon the length, zwidth,andi i kness of 'the ri'bbon vor 1 blade,but,t,he iequaliz,ationof its powercan be readily `effected.Joy iiueans .of i

singleiordouble'edge ftapers. In conntifln with the-use of v,equalized .springs `;of ,equal fithichnesal also multiplyor increase ;thepower of zthe volute 'spring :in a novel andreffectiye manner. :I employ ifor .this purposeonaor morere. enforcingspringbladesofiequalpowcr and size, arranged .and connected lto ;each other, andzto the inclosing-easeE andthe winding-shaft,insuchzamanner astofpreventbuck- `ling `-zwhenzbeing zwound, -so ithat, ;while the seriesofzblades may constitute afiingle spring, yeteach of the re-.enforcin'g blades mayzihavea moveinenttindependent `of -the'winding .blade or spring. This isrnecessary, sincethezre-.en' 'forcingzzblades :must have a movement upon the winding-blade, which is fastened itozzthe spring-'boxand 'windingzshaft The ``re-enforc- .ingblades allowof theirimoving and fadjust- -ing themselves ``endwise i. during ithe L-wi-nding, s-butftheir atl'achmentimust be .such :as V:to .hold

'them in proper relation, while admitting of their movement independent of the hitchingblade;

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a volute motor-spring embracing my invention; Fig. 2, the same developed in a plain surface; Fig. 3, an edge view of the same. These views show the principle of equalizing the power of the spring by side and edge tapers. Figi. 4 represents avolutespring blade of equal thickness, having the equalized power produced by edge taper only; Fig. 4A, the same developed in plain; vPig-5, a blank from which two such equalized blades are formed by splitting. modifications of such spring-blades. Fig. 8 shows such an equalized spring-blade; re-enlforced to multiply or increase its power as a motor;V Fig. 9, the-manner of unitingzthere-.

enforced spring or springs; and Fig..10, the re-enforced spring applied to the box and winding-shaft.

taper, combined with av single -face taper. These tapers areshown in Figs. 2-and 3, which is an uncoiled spring. These edge and face tag` pers a and b may extend throughout the whole spring, or may commenoe a distance from the 'outer end sutficient to leave a neutral coll, o, i

by which the spring is fastened to the box. This neutral eoil gives a clear and long startimg-point for the spring, and serves to give a j long bearing to the hitching-coil. The edge'j and face tapers are the means by which the power of the spring is equalized by taking out more metal than could be removed by either a 1 out its length, is that single edge or single face taper.

In'some lengths and thicknesses of blades I- have found that the reduction from the starting-point to the end should be aboutonehalf the amount of metal in weight, in others five-eighths, and so on up, governed always by the amount of elasticity and strength of the desired spring. These tapers are for the i Vpurpose of'givii'lg an excessof metal to the' coils extendingoutward when the spring is1 being wound that .is to say,the excess increasing from the smallest to the largest coils in proportion to the increased .size of the i coils, and thus render the power of the sever- 'Sal coils as lnearly uniform as may be. Or, .if

desired, this same method of tapers will put an excessof power in the outer coils, .where there is an excess of metal, a thing which has hitherto been supposed impossible. ThusI get* .rid .of making the small coils containing the `leastmetal supply the most power. In this case the outer coils will furnish the most pulling-l power. I have stated that these tapers may :be made in various ways, all accomplishing the same results.

For'example, the plate may have a doubleedge taper combined with a single-face taper or a double-face taper combined with a doubleedge taper. Any and all of these tapers are Figs. 6 and 7 are' throughout their length. This 'I do by split- 'f ting such ribbon-Springs so as to form a spring having only a single or double taper,f

to produce the results before stated, as it is not practioable or necessary in thin or ribbon blades of the usual manufacture to have face- 5 tapers. z In Fig. 5, such a spring is shown as divid-'v ed equallyby av diagonal split, which gives two equalized Springs, the tapers being such as to produce this result. In Figs. 6 and 7, such a springis shown formed by double-edge 1 tapers with or without the neutral or box- For springs of-unusual thickness and power, I take a blade and give it a double-edge' fastening coil.

. The degree of edge taper or tapers of this spring will, as before stated, depend upon the width, thickness, and length of the ribbon to be equalized. In point of economy the equal diagonal split is most desirable, because two complete equalized springs are obtained from one ordinary blade; but it may be preferable to produce such spring by double-edge splitting or tapering, as shown in Fig. 6, since th'ese tapers render the outer edges equal .in length and gives a better balanced spring on its shaft in winding.

An advantage in using' this split-ribbon spring, which is of equal thickness throughit admits of its being readily increased or multiplied in power. This I efi'ect by re-enforcing the single spring-blade with one or more blades of like kind, and arranged one upon the other in such numbers as to obtain the desired capacity of the spring. It is important, however, to adapt the re-enforcing Springs so that they shall have an endwise movement or adjustxnent in winding and unwinding in order to prevent buckling. They areV not, therefore, rigidly coupled or fastened ,either to the box, or to the re-enforced blade, which re-enforced blade is rigidly secured one end to the box and the other to, the winding-shaft.

The manner of connecting the re-enforoing blades with the re-enforced blade is by providin g the Yformer with slots d in the direction of their length at their ends, and, if need be, at intermediate points, into and through which pins e extend from the re-enforced blade to which they are secured. These pins e may have heads to lock the plates together, and to cause them to act as one spring.

I may also secure the re-enforcing blades simply by means of the pins used in permanently securing the re-enforced blade to the box and windingshaft, in which case these pins or hooks enter the slots of the re-enforctype-writers, &c., ,I

the Winding-shaft,

ing blades, and allow of their proper movement or adjustment endwise in both direetions in being wound and in unwinding. This arrangement gives a free and independent end- Wise movement to each and all of the re-en- `forcing blades.

Where the re-enforcing blade or blades are used on the outer face of the coils, the button-heads serve to confine them to the re-enforced blade; but when used on the inner face ,v side of the box.

I claim- 1. A volute motor-spring of equal thickness,'and having edge taper or tapers, substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth. w

2. Two or more volute motor-Springs, equalized in power throughout their length, substantially as described, by means of diagonal or otherwise splitting anvordinary blade of commerce, substantially as herein set forth.

3. A volute vmotor-spring equalized in power throughout its coils, as described, and increased or re-enforced in power by similar equalized blades, substantially as herein set forth.

'-1. A volute motor-spring having` its outer coils increased in power in excess of its inner coils by giving the outer coils an excess of metal over that required 'to equalize the whole length, substantially as herein set forth.

5.- A volute motor-spring having its re-enforcing blades connected to the re-enforcing blades by means of headed pins e and slots d, snbstantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.

6. A volute motor-spring having re-enforcing blades secured in place with the reenforcedblade by means of the slots and the pins upon the spring'box and winding-shaft, substantially as herein set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have affixed my signature in the pr'esence of two witnesses.

`o. H. sLIoER.

Witnesses A. E. H. JOHNSON, J. W. HAMILTON JOHNSON. 

